Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington first worked together on Training Day (2001) almost two decades ago. Their collaboration gained Washington an Oscar for Best Actor. His portrayal of a morally ambiguous detective was simply amazing. What else is amazing is that it took the pair roughly thirteen years to get around to working together again. The Equalizer (2014) marked their reunion and fans couldn’t have been more pleased. A short two years later, the pair were at it again with another reboot in Magnificent Seven (2016). Now comes a sequel to one of those reboots which may not bode well from a box office perspective. If they want to protect their names, The Equalizer 2 had better be something conversation-worthy by the time this weekend is up.
Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has made his presence felt around those he has chosen to help, as well as those who have wronged him in one way or another. When someone that Robert holds in the highest regard is violently taken from him, you had better bet that he won’t let this score go unsettled. While trying to balance a relatively quiet life as a Lyft driver, of all things, as well as somewhat of a mentor to a talented young artist who happens to be his neighbor, he has to call onto his darkest side to right this particular wrong. No one is off limits as Robert looks to equal the playing field.
This time around, Washington is joined once again by Melissa Leo and Bill Pullman, with Pedro Pascal and Ashton Sanders adding new blood. The relationship has already been established between Washington’s character and the Plummers (Leo and Pullman). This new chapter puts the focus on Robert’s former close work associate, Dave (Pascal) and a younger neighbor, Miles (Sanders) that happens to be an extremely talented artist but is currently caught up in a less-than-desirable social life that would lead him down a path of crime or death. The custodial and caring side to Robert really begins to show. The layers of Washington’s character are on full display as he navigates through this story.
The Equalizer 2 marks the first time in Denzel Washington’s illustrious career, which has spanned more than 40 theatrical releases, that he has opted to star in a sequel. That is a crazy fact, especially when you consider how many sequels there have been. I mean this week alone there are, count them, THREE sequels being released this weekend. If that doesn’t speak volumes for the lack of creativity being replaced by complacency, I don’t know what does. Still though, Washington appearing in a sequel isn’t an indictment on his skills as an actor. It’s just the times we live in now. You would assume that both he and director Antoine Fuqua felt very strongly about the work they are presenting.
It would appear that Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington have gone to the well once too often. The Equalizer 2 lacks the creative grit and passion that made me the first one so enjoyable. It feels like there’s less action this time around, with a huge uptick in brutality. Now I appreciate in-your-face violence as much as the next person, but this feels a little far reaching and gimmicky. There’s no denying that Robert McCall is a complete bad ass, but when he’s going all “1990s Steven Seagal” on the bad guys, credibility starts to crumble and see the action sequences in a whole new light.
Paying full price to see The Equalizer 2 this weekend isn’t a poor decision. The sequel is entertaining, albeit drawn out at times. It just doesn’t come close to 2014’s movie. Hopefully this fact is realized and they retire this character while he still maintains dignity. Maybe sequels aren’t for Denzel. Check it out in theaters now.
